Second complete map of a fruit fly brain completed

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Engineers Train Mapped Fruit Fly Brain to Play Doom and Trade Bitcoin

   Engineers are utilizing a complete 3D wiring diagram of an adult male fruit fly brain and central nervous system to power digital simulations. The AI-powered dataset, containing over 166,000 neurons, has allowed developers to train a simulated fly brain to play video games such as Doom, Mario 64, Beat Saber, and Minecraft. Additionally, creators have connected the disembodied brain model to a trading platform to execute financial transactions with real cryptocurrency. Scientists originally released the comprehensive neural map to advance research in neuroscience.

   Why it matters

   The public release of the MaleCNS v1.0 dataset provided researchers and software developers with an unprecedented structural map of an insect nervous system. While neuroscientists initially celebrated the atlas for its biological implications, technology creators quickly repurposed the data to test artificial intelligence in interactive environments. These unconventional applications bridge biological neural mapping with computer science and automated systems.

   What is confirmed

   • Google Research and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute released MaleCNS v1.0, containing over 166,000 neurons.
   • Engineers used the dataset to train a simulated fly brain to play video games including Doom, Mario 64, and Beat Saber.

   Still unconfirmed

   • A project named Stonkfly uses the 166,700-neuron brain map to place real Bitcoin trades on Coinbase with $100, though no profitable results have been shown.

   What to watch next

   • Evidence of profitable trading results from the Stonkfly cryptocurrency project.
   • Additional video game integrations or software adaptations using the MaleCNS v1.0 dataset.
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. hothardware.com — Google Mapped A Fruit Fly Brain, So Engineers Taught It To Play Doom
   2. medicalxpress.com — New brain atlas shows neurons don't inherit their identity—they build it in their first hours of life
   3. www.earth.com — Scientists found a tiny group of brain cells that can shut down aggression
   4. tech.yahoo.com — A Fruit Fly’s Disembodied Brain Is Now Trading Bitcoin on Coinbase
   confidence 100%
2. 2d ago

   Google Research releases MaleCNS v1.0 fruit fly connectome

   Google Research and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute released MaleCNS v1.0, a complete wiring diagram of an adult male fruit fly's brain and central nervous system. The AI-powered 3D model contains over 166,000 neurons. Since its release, software engineers and developers have used the dataset to train a simulated fly brain to play video games, including Doom, Mario 64, and Beat Saber. Some creators have also placed the simulated brain in a Minecraft environment.

   Why it matters

   Connectomics seeks to map every neuron and connection in a brain to understand how neural pathways drive behavior. This project provides a digital blueprint that researchers use to study neuroscience and human behavior.

   What is confirmed

   • Google Research and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute released the MaleCNS v1.0 connectome.
   • The map includes more than 166,000 neurons from an adult male fruit fly.
   • Programmers have trained the simulated fly brain to play Doom and Mario 64.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Developers are forcing the simulated brain to navigate Minecraft and play Beat Saber.
   • A creator built an open-world paradise for the digital fly brain.

   What to watch next

   • Peer review of the MaleCNS v1.0 dataset results
   • Reports on whether simulated neural pathways correlate with actual fly behavior in games
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. tech.yahoo.com — Google maps entire brain and central nervous system of adult male fruit fly, software engineers immediately make it run Doom — AI-powered 3D model of over 166,000 neurons can ...
   2. finance.biggo.com — Fly Brain Wiring Diagram Turned Into Game Console Within Days of Release, Tested on "DOOM" and "Mario 64"
   3. gizmodo.com — Google Mapped a Fruit Fly’s Brain. Now It’s Playing Doom and Super Mario 64
   4. www.dexerto.com — Google’s digital fly brain gets its own heaven after going through Beat Saber hell
   5. www.techspot.com — Google mapped a fly's nervous system and developers are using it to play Doom
   confidence 100%
3. 5d ago

   Second Complete Fruit Fly Brain Map Completed

   Researchers have completed a detailed map of every neuron and neural connection in the brain of a male fruit fly. The project maps 300 million connections, marking a major milestone in the field of connectomics. This achievement delivers the second complete connectome of its kind. Scientists are utilizing these detailed visuals to advance neuroscience research and help explain human behaviour. The effort builds on years of pursuit to map the fly brain and rewrite how neural pathways are studied.

   Why it matters

   Mapping complete neural circuits allows scientists to study complex behaviors and neural networks in unprecedented detail. Fruit flies share fundamental biological principles with humans, making them vital model organisms for neuroscience. The completion of this male fruit fly connectome follows prior mapping milestones in the scientific community.

   What is confirmed

   • Researchers have completed a detailed map of every neuron and neural connection in the brain of a male fruit fly.
   • The project maps 300 million connections in the fruit fly brain.
   • This achievement represents the second complete connectome of a fruit fly brain.

   What to watch next

   • Further research applying the male fruit fly brain map to explain human behavior
   • Additional publications from Google Research and HHMI detailing the connectomics milestone
   Sources used for this update (7)

   1. blog.google — 5 amazing visuals show how the male fruit fly’s brain map is advancing neuroscience
   2. Google Research — A connectomics milestone: Mapping the complete male fruit fly brain
   3. HHMI — Completing the Connectome: How Pursuing a Map of the Fly Brain Rewired Neuroscience
   4. BBC — How the brain of a fly may help explain human behaviour
   5. Ars Technica — Second complete map of a fruit fly brain completed
   6. www.newindianexpress.com — Scientists map 300 million connections in fruit fly brain
   7. www.yahoo.com — The 30 best songs of the 1950s, ranked
   confidence 100%